Another phase has been completed in the Solar Power Plant (GES) Project, one of the environmental investments, in line with sustainable campus vision. The implementation process has begun following the site handover for the 1500 kWe (1861,2 kWp) capacity Solar Power Plant to be established in the Çaycuma Vocational School.

The investment made as part of the Public and Municipality Renewable Energy Project (KAYEP) carried out under the coordination of Directorate of Construction and Technical Affairs of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change with the financing from World Bank, is among the significant projects that enhance the use of renewable energy in public institutions and increase energy efficiency.

The Solar Power Plant, which will be established on an area of approximately 24,000 square meters and will have an installed capacity of 1,500 kWe (1,861.2 kWp), will transfer the electricity it generates after being commissioned to the university’s Faculty of Medicine through the national grid using the balancing method. Thus, it is aimed to meet approximately 25 percent of the Faculty of Medicine’s annual electricity needs from renewable energy sources.

A Strong Contribution to the Vision of an Environmentally Conscious Campus

Through the project, it is aimed to reduce the university’s energy expenses, decrease fossil fuel-based energy consumption and carbon emissions, ensure more efficient use of public resources, and strengthen environmental sustainability. The power plant, which is expected to generate clean energy for approximately 25 years, is planned to contribute not only to meeting energy needs but also to academic studies, practical training activities, and research in the field of renewable energy to be carried out at the university. In this respect, the solar power plant project stands out as one of the exemplary projects that brings education, research, and practice together under one roof, in addition to being an environmentally friendly energy investment.

Rector Özölçer: “We Are Building a University That Generates Its Own Energy and Adds Value to the Future”

Commenting on the project, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer stated that the commencement of the implementation phase following the site handover was an important development for the university and said:

“We have completed the site handover for our Solar Power Plant, which will be established on the campus of our Çaycuma Vocational School, and have thus entered the implementation phase of our project. This investment, planned in line with our university’s understanding of sustainability, is one of the most important steps toward our goal of an environmentally conscious campus. Once our solar power plant project is completed, it will meet a significant portion of the electricity needs of our Faculty of Medicine from renewable energy sources, contribute to reducing energy costs, and enable more effective use of public resources. In addition, this investment, which will contribute to reducing carbon emissions, will be a strong indicator of our responsibility toward a clean environment.

It is an obvious fact that universities should lead not only through their educational and research activities but also through sustainable practices that set an example for society. As Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, we will continue to implement projects that support the green transformation, are environmentally conscious, and add value to the future.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Mr. Murat Kurum, and the esteemed administrators of our Ministry, as well as to the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and the distinguished members of the Council of Higher Education, for their support in bringing this important investment to our university. I would also like to thank the General Directorate of Construction and Technical Affairs of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, KAYEP officials, the relevant academic and administrative units of our university, and all our stakeholders who contributed from the planning of the project through the site handover stage. Our university will continue to resolutely pursue its environmentally friendly investments and projects that will contribute to sustainable development.”